Mr Biswajit Chakraborty

“Trade has stopped majorly due to the unavailability of the required LAD (Least Availability Depth). Dredging of rivers is required despite gradual shifts in the course of river Gomati,” he said. DeepalayaDey, a representative of New Delhi-based NGO JuktoOrganisation, said: “The private sector should be incentivised with lucrative business models and a wider array of commodities through these stretches for a regular course of operation. “Medicinal plants and the handicrafts sector can be thought of as the possible sectors for trade between northeast India and Bangladesh.” The President of Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industries, M.L. Debnath, said that considering the navigability problems, smaller vessels can be operated as a viable alternative. “Also, in order to increase the volume of business through the waterway stretches, one has to clearly define the key commodities of trade for both the countries,” Debnath said. India and Bangladesh share 2,979 km land borders and 1,116 km riverine boundaries. The five Indian states of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura share the 4,096 km borders with Bangladesh.